Toilet odor elimination device and method

ABSTRACT

An odor extraction device for use in a toilet bowl and toilet water tank. The device has a housing, a pipe assembly for transporting gases from the toilet bowl, a suction assembly for forcibly moving gases through the pipe assembly, a power supply assembly for supplying power to the suction assembly, and a controller in communication with the suction assembly for controlling and activating the suction assembly. When the controller is activated, it activates the suction assembly to forcibly transport gases from the toilet bowl to a desired location.

1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device and method for eliminating odors from a toilet by forcibly extracting malodorous gases from a toilet bowl.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The current state of the art in this field presents some designs that perform functions to accomplish the same goals.

Elimination of odors from bathrooms or toilet facilities has been a continuing problem. Fans are often used to remove malodorous air from the facility. Perfumes, candles, or sprays are also often used in such facilities to mask odors.

An object of the present invention is to provide a more efficient and effective device that eliminates odors from a toilet while in use and a method of using the device to accomplish the same.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a device and a method for efficiently and effectively eliminating odor from a toilet bowl. In one such embodiment, the device comprises a housing, a plurality of pipe assemblies for extracting gases from the toilet bowl, a suction assembly disposed within the housing for forcibly moving gases through the plurality of pipe assemblies, a power supply assembly for supplying power to the suction assembly, and a controller in communication with the suction assembly for controlling the suction assembly, where the plurality of pipe assemblies comprises a first pipe assembly for transporting gases from the toilet bowl to the desired location, the first pipe assembly comprising a plurality of first pipe members and a second pipe assembly for transporting gases from the toilet bowl to the suction assembly. In an embodiment, the second pipe assembly comprises a plurality of second pipe members and openings disposed along the length of the second pipe assembly through which the gases may enter the second pipe assembly from the toilet bowl. In an embodiment, a method of using the device includes manually or automatically activating controller, which then activates the suction assembly in order to moves malodorous gases from the toilet bowl to a desired location.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is directed to a device and method for eliminating odors from a toilet while the toilet is in use. The device and method of using the device according to the embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a right perspective view of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail view of the exhaust system components of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the suction assembly of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device and method for eliminating malodorous gases from a toilet bowl.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the device in operation with a toilet 30 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the device comprises a housing 1 disposed in a cistern 31, a plurality of pipes 4, 5, for transporting gases from the toilet bowl 32, a suction assembly 3 for forcibly moving gases through the pipes 4, 5, a power supply assembly 6 for supplying power to the suction assembly 3, and a controller 2 in communication with the suction assembly for controlling the suction assembly. In an embodiment, the suction assembly 3 may be disposed within the housing 1, within the toilet water tank or cistern 31 in order to isolate the suction assembly 3 from the water in the toilet water tank 31. In an embodiment, the plurality of pipes 4, 5 facilitate transport of the gases from the toilet bowl 32 to a desired location outside of the room in which the toilet is located, for example, another room or outdoors. The plurality of pipes 4, 5 may be fabricated from any suitable materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel, iron, plastic, PVC, or other material with a suitable strength and rigidity. In an embodiment, the diameter of the pipes 4, 5 may optimally be 1″-2″.

In an embodiment, the controller 2 is in communication with the suction assembly 3 and controls activation and deactivation of the suction assembly 3. The controller may comprise a switch or a sensor, such as a motion activated sensor, such that the suction assembly 3 is activated when a person passes in front the sensor while using the toilet. The controller 2 activates the suction assembly 3 by sending a signal or command to the power supply assembly 6 to activate and deliver power to the suction assembly 3.

The power supply assembly may be located within the housing 1 or alternatively outside of the housing 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with the suction assembly 3 and housing 1 disposed in a cistern 31, where the housing 1 isolates the suction assembly 3 from water in the cistern 31.

FIG. 3 illustrates a right perspective view of the plurality of pipes 4, 5 and suction assembly 3 illustrated in FIG. 1. The plurality of pipes 4, 5 comprises a first pipe 4 and second pipe 5 for removing and transporting malodorous gases from the toilet bowl 32 to a desired location. In an embodiment, the first pipe 4 extends between the suction assembly 3 and the desired location to which the gases are transported optimally outdoors and the second pipe is disposed within the toilet bowl 32, extends between the toilet bowl 32 and the suction assembly 3, and comprises a plurality of openings 22 disposed along the length of the second pipe 5 through which the gases may enter the pipe from the toilet bowl 32. In an embodiment, these openings 22 are longitudinal slits but may be of any suitable size and shape for facilitating movement of gas from the toilet bowl 32 into the pipe 5.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close up and partially exploded perspective view of the plurality of pipes 4, 5 and suction assembly 3 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In an embodiment, the suction assembly 3 may be secured to the pipes 4, 5 and/or the toilet water tank 31 by any suitable connections or mechanical fasteners 10, 11 known in the art.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the suction assembly and a portion of the second pipe 5 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. In an embodiment, the suction assembly 3 comprises a motor (not shown), a plurality of fasteners 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 21, fastener housings, a gasket 18, a plurality of suction assembly covers 17, 20, and a fan assembly 19 for extracting the gases from the toilet bowl 32 and transporting them through the plurality of pipes 4, 5 pipe. Each of the covers 17, 20 comprises an opening, the size of which is substantially similar to the cross-sectional area of the pipe members that pass through the suction assembly 3. The fasteners may be any suitable connections or mechanical fasteners known in the art, such as nuts 7, 14, washers 8, 9, or threaded rods 10, 11, 21. The fasteners may be fabricated from any suitable materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel, iron, plastic, or other material with a suitable strength and rigidity. The gaskets may also be fabricated from any suitable materials, such as rubber or other material with suitable flexibility and resiliency. In an embodiment, the fasteners may be enclosed within a fastener housing 12, 13, such as a PVC pipe 12, 13, in order to protect the fasteners, for example, from corrosion. In an embodiment, the nuts and washers are 3/16″. The washers may be fabricated from any suitable materials, such as metal or rubber. The rotational speed of the fan assembly 19 of the suction assembly 3 may be manually or automatically adjustable or alternatively fixed.

The exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to allow others skilled in the art to comprehend its teachings.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An odor extraction device for use in a toilet bowl and toilet water tank, the device comprising: a housing, a pipe assembly for transporting gases from the toilet bowl, a suction assembly for forcibly moving gases through the pipe assembly, a power supply assembly for supplying power to the suction assembly, and a controller in communication with the suction assembly for controlling the suction assembly.
 2. An odor extraction device for use in a toilet bowl and toilet water tank, the device comprising: a housing, a plurality of pipe assemblies for extracting gases from the toilet bowl, a suction assembly disposed within the housing for forcibly moving gases through the plurality of pipe assemblies, a power supply assembly for supplying power to the suction assembly, and a controller in communication with the suction assembly for controlling the suction assembly, wherein the plurality of pipe assemblies comprises a first pipe assembly for transporting gases from the toilet bowl to the desired location, the first pipe assembly comprising a plurality of first pipe members and a second pipe assembly for transporting gases from the toilet bowl to the suction assembly, the second pipe assembly comprising a plurality of second pipe members and openings disposed along the length of the second pipe assembly through which the gases may enter the second pipe assembly from the toilet bowl.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first pipe is disposed within a toilet bowl.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second pipe is disposed between the suction assembly and the desired location.
 5. The device of claim 2, wherein the controller comprises a motion sensor or switch.
 6. The device of claim 2, wherein the controller may be manually or automatically activated.
 7. The device of claim 2, wherein the suction assembly comprises a motor, a plurality of fasteners, a plurality of fastener housings, a gasket, a plurality of suction assembly covers, each of the covers comprising an opening sized to accommodate the second pipe members through the covers, and a fan assembly.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the fan assembly comprises a rotatable finned fan.
 9. A method of eliminating toilet odor from a toilet bowl, the method comprising: providing an odor extraction device for use in a toilet bowl and toilet water tank, the device comprising: a housing, a pipe assembly for transporting gases from the toilet bowl, a suction assembly for forcibly moving gases through the pipe assembly, a power supply assembly for supplying power to the suction assembly, and a controller in communication with the suction assembly for controlling the suction assembly, activating the controller, and activating the suction assembly. 